Caye Caulker, Caye Caulker, Belize

The Cut Caye Caulker

The Cut, also known as the Caye Caulker Split, is a narrow channel through the island of Caye Caulker that originally was widened by Hurricane Hattie in 1961 and is dived as part of the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve. The dive site sits just outside the Split on the barrier reef side, where tidal water exiting the channel meets the reef and concentrates fish life. Depths range from about 5 metres on the reef top to 18 metres along the outer edge before the wall continues into deeper water. The site features a coral garden of star, brain and pillar corals, sea fans and yellow tube sponges. Resident schools of yellowtail snapper, schoolmasters, horse-eye jacks, French grunts and sergeant majors swim above the structure. Spotted moray eels, lobsters, southern stingrays and queen angelfish are easy to find. Tidal currents can be moderate at peak flow. Visibility 12 to 20 metres. A popular site for new divers and as a quick second tank from Caye Caulker.